JustFab.com’s clever commercials play up the stereotype of women who go crazy over shoes, but one of the male gender’s best-kept secrets is that we too, love our footwear. Like the shoe-loving ladies on JustFab’s commercials, we sometimes go a little overboard, and no well-dressed man limits his wardrobe to just a single pair. I have the basics – a pair of Aldo black dress Oxfords, a pair of light brown Kenneth Cole dress shoes I picked up on sale at Macy’s, some comfortable Polo walking shoes for when I walk our Boston Terrier every day at 5:00, and a pair of leather sandals I bought in Thailand. I am amenable to having more, though my wife’s collection takes up most of the closet space.
Celebrities know better
Ladies, you know you want to wear the same glittery Jimmy Choo heels that you saw Jennifer Lopez wearing at the Golden Globes last year. But another little secret for us is that not only do men love shoes, men also love to wear the same shoes as celebrities. Will we ever admit it publicly? No. But we do. Samuel L. Jackson – great actor and someone who knows about men’s style – may not have worn these on Kong: Skull Island, but he loves his WORLDboots and didn’t hesitate to tell the world about it recently on social media. They’re next on my list if I can get my wife to make a little more room for me in the closet.
For everyday casual wear, high-end running shoes have just about run their course, and there’s really no need to try to look like a track star if you’re just going out to dinner at Applebee’s. Leave the athletic wear for the athletes. The trend now is to wear something that’s comfortable, practical and stylish, and not quite so pretentious. The WORLDboots Jackson are so fond of give us something apart from the norm for those of us who are just plain tired of seeing men walking around all day in running shoes, athletic shirts and basketball shorts, when they have clearly never run any further than from the couch to the refrigerator. WORLDboots are made in America, and the company supports a worthwhile charity in Soles for Souls. They’re just comfortable, good-looking shoes. And Samuel L. Jackson wears ‘em, so they can’t be bad.
Can men accessorize?
Why not? There is of course, a certain contingent of folks here in the Rust Belt in northern Indiana who respond “that’s gay” every time a man tries to wear something that does not involve a John Deere hat and a flannel shirt. Let’s put that stereotype to rest. A good man isn’t afraid to look stylish. My accessories include hats (real hats, not bill caps with slogans printed on them), cuff links, pocket squares, and a black Fossil shoulder bag. And why shouldn’t we carry a bag? It’s incredibly practical, and avoids over-stuffed pockets or relying on your wife to keep your stuff in her purse when you’re out.
I even own a sarong, which my wife brought back for me on her last trip back home, but I haven’t worn it yet. I had asked her to bring me back a nice manly gift like a box of Cuban cigars, but no, she got me a sarong instead! Of course, in parts of rural Thailand, Laos and Burma, it’s normal to see men wearing these, and I have to admit, they do look comfortable. On that traditional front, I do also own a traditional Thai suit (which in the ‘60s we called “Nehru jackets”) which is incredibly comfortable.
That JustFab.com commercial may make us think that enjoying a bigger-than-average shoe collection is just for women, but it’s not. Looking good, accessorizing, and yes, having a closetful of shoes can be part of the male experience. Let’s embrace it.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
